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<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">Japan's Princess Mako has formally announced her engagement to a commoner after receiving the emperor's approval.</span><br></p><p>This announcement kicks off a lengthy marriage process, and it also means the princess will lose her royal status.</p><p>Under a controversial Japanese law female imperial family members give up their status upon marriage to a commoner, whereas male members do not.</p><p>The formal announcement came from Japan's Imperial Household Agency yesterday, after local media reported news of the planned engagement in May.</p>
